The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-06-05

well, that was the original idea" 1
replied.
At last we were settled in our new
house. l will not attempt to describe
our removal and subsequent establish
ing of Ourselves and our furniture. Ii
was not pleasant to go through the eX-
perIence, and it is not pleasant to recall
it. I think Margaret and l came as near
having a quarrel as we ever did in our
lives-at that time. It all floats through
my mind as l think of it.. A confused
dream of bedsteads and sideboards IN
the drawing room, wardrobeS IN the
dining room, Dresden china and mir
rors in the kitchen, Naples men and
strange cats everywhere, tinned-beef
dinners, and general all perVadiDg at
mosphere of straw.
But at last it was all over, and Mar
garet triumphantly declared that the
house looked as If we had lived in it
for years. l thought it rather a
dubious compliment, but did not tell
her so.
One morning, as we we're sitting at
breakfast, letter was brought in and
handed to my wife. The postman is
late this morning. she said as she took
it. said nothing; l had caught q
glimpse Of the handwriting and huge
golden monogram on the envelope. 1t
was from Aunt Georgina.
| laid down my knife and fork and
looked blaukly across the table at Mar
garet, who looked banker still. She had
just spread piece of toast with mar
malade- Though she was just IN the
middle of eating an egg-in sheer des-
peration and self-abandonment.
Il can't read it, she said presently,
tossing the letter across to me. 1T
looks as if she had written it with her
left hand and her eyes'shut."
| decIphered its contents with some
difficulty, and then read it aloud to
Margaret. 1t read as follows;
DEAR MAGGIE C'I wish she wouldn t
call you Maggie" said) So hear you are
established in new town house think OF
running up next Saturday to Monday, just
for change of air for myself and Boulotte
(BOulotte was her pug, and to have peep
at the fashions May 1 occupy your spare
room? OF course you have spare room. l
know the delightful plan of all London
houses. All news when we meet. Your at
tectionate AUNT GEORGINA.
To-day was Monday; she had not
given US long notice of her coming.
To think of her trying to make us
believe that she is only coming from
Saturday to Monday" said Margaret
scornfully. II don't quite see how she
could peep at the fashions between
Saturday afternoon and Monday morn
ing, unless she means she is going to
study the bonnets in church"
'"Well," said, dividing my morning
paper into two, and giving Margaret the
part with the births, deaths and mar
riages, which she always likes to see,
Its awkward her wishing to come to
US just as we have decided not 10 have
spare room, but we can easily write
and say we haven't one"
No" said Margaret; shaking her
head sagely, THAT would never do. In
the first place, she would be very much
offended, and she mustn't be offended,
for you know, Charles, have some ex-
pectations from her though it is not
much" That was very true. Then,
she continued, "our not having her to
STAY in this house will not prevent her
coming UP to town. She will come all
the same. and stay at hotel. She will
of course, expect to be shown all over
the house; and it will strike her as
rather peculiar why we have LETT our
large front bedroom on the third floor
empty. You know the horrid way she
always notices every thing. She WILL
bear down upon me with an avalanche
! of questions, and probably get every
thing out of me before l know where
am, MOI What we must do is turn that
room into some other kind OF room
not a bedroom" she concluded some
what vaguely.
1t was time for me to go to the city,
80 we did not discuss the matter any
more just then.
As have said, this was Monday and
By Wednesday evening we had not come
| to aDy decision about our spare room.
But Margaret had written a polite
though, 1 am afraid rather hypocritical
note to Aunt Georgina, saying that un
| fortunately we possessed no spare bed
room. and entreating her to take up hel
quarters at the Paddington Hotel and
give MS as much Of her society as posi-
bic.
On Wednesday evening we began ser
J iousIv to discuss our spare room; time
was getting short. Margaret could sug'
| gest nothing but picture gallery or q
private chapel; but as we had nc
pictures worth speaking OF, and there
was a church in the next street, the
suggestion could hardly be called good
one: and my idea of turning the room
| into q kitchen-as the sanitary-dwelllne
folk tell one that the kitchen should
always be at the top of the house-WaS
received by Margaret with scorn and
contumely.
"Fancy ones dinner coming down to
one instead of up" she said; how
dreadful it would be. I'm sure should
never be. able to eat morsel."
II don't quite see the objection" !
replied, mildly, unless you think II
would be a 'come-down,' and IN any
case, your dinner must go down when
YOU eat, you know"
Margaret took no notice OF this re-
mark. 1t is always a point OF honor
with her not to see any of my Jokes
when they are at her expense. She die
not even smile.
TT would be horrible" she went on
"I should feel that the next thing would
be / should have to wear divided skirt Is
and stockings with toes to them"
II thought stockings always had
toes u / said, but Margaret vouchsateo
me no reply, not understanding to IN
form me that she referred to DIR. Jae-
GERS new system. where the toes OF the
Stocking are separated like the fingers
In glove.